At Mercer County polls relocated due to Hurricane Sandy, voters were finding their way

MERCER COUNTY -- Business was brisk at a few of the alternate polling places Mercer County voters were forced to use due to Hurricane Sandy relocation.

While the presidential race is the big draw for many, voters in Princeton and West Windsor said that local issues are the most important. In Princeton borough and township, for example, voters will be selecting the first mayor in the soon-to-be united town's history.

“We think it will be a great thing,” said Ruth Scott, who moved to Princeton Township more than 20 years ago.

She and her husband David Scott said they feel voting for a mayor for the united municipality makes the consolidation feel more tangible as the Jan. 1 date approaches.

The Princeton mayor race includes Republican Richard C. Woodbridge and Democrat Liz Lempert. Six council seats are also up for grabs.

Carol Golden, who was on the board tasked with working out the kinks of consolidation for the Princetons, said she is excited that the day has finally come for voters to make a choice for a new leader of the consolidated Princeton.

“I put a lot of time into it so I feel that it is important,” Golden said. “And there are some great people that can run this town.”

Golden said Princeton Borough and Township showed that they can work together efficiently by the way that they worked together during Hurricane Sandy, which blew
through the area last week.

Golden said Princeton did a great job getting the word out that people would need to go to a new location to cast their ballots.

“If anything it was overly publicized, which is never a bad thing,” Golden said. “It seems like people know where to go.”

A line was out the door of the Heritage Room of the Clarion Hotel on Route 1 in West Windsor, which served as the new polling location for District 4 in the township.

Edgar Yhap said he went to his original polling place at Princeton Seminary before learning about the relocation, but he said the change wasn't too much of a hassle.

Yhap said he is most concerned about “getting the right person in the White House” and that was his drive for casting a ballot today.

Brigid Small, who moved to West Windsor in September from Texas, said she was excited to cast her vote for Republican Mitt Romney, because she said in a largely
Democratic state like New Jersey, it will have a greater impact.

“I am a Republican and in Texas everyone is a Republican,” Small said. “My vote counts more here.”

Small said because she is new to the area, she took the time to research the local races and ballot questions – which she said made her feel like a part of the community.

“It is interesting to see who lives in this district because they are my neighbors,” Small said.

For first time voter Lynn DiFerdinando, who turned 18 in July, the excitement was apparent on her face as she left the voting booth at the Jadwin Gym at Princeton University. The gym was a relocated polling place for 7 districts -- 1, 2, 4, 14, 15, 16, 20, -- in Princeton.

“It is cool because I’m like ‘Woah, I’m an adult,’” said DiFerdinando. “I wanted to vote because it is your right in this democracy.”